Dec. 20, 2012
|

Vice President Biden and President Obama / Charles Dharapak, AP

by By David Jackson, USA TODAY

by By David Jackson, USA TODAY

Vice President Biden pledged Thursday to take a "comprehensive" look at ways to prevent gun attacks like the one that claimed 26 lives last week at an elementary school in Connecticut.

"Even if ... we can only save one life, we have to take action," Biden said before meeting with a group of law enforcement officials from across the country.

The meeting kicked off the effort President Obama unveiled Wednesday in response to the shooting deaths of 20 children and six faculty Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

In addition to possible gun control legislation, Biden and his team will look at mental health and cultural issues, including violent movies and video games.

"We have to have a comprehensive way in which to respond to the mass murder of our children that we saw in Connecticut," Biden said.

Biden said he wanted his first meeting to be with law enforcement officials because "you have a much more holistic view of how to deal with violence on our streets and in our country."

He added: "For anything to get done, we're going to need your advocacy."

Among the organizations represented: The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association; Fraternal Order of Police; International Association of Chiefs of Police; Major County Sheriffs' Association; and the National Association of Police Organizations.

In assigning Biden to this task, Obama said Wednesday that the vice president will work with Cabinet members and outside groups to develop "concrete proposals" by the end of January.

"I asked Joe to lead this effort in part because he wrote the 1994 crime bill that helped law enforcement bring down the rate of violent crime in this country," Obama said, one that included an assault weapons ban.

A long-time gun control advocate, Biden made law enforcement organizations a key part of a political coalition that helped push the '94 crime bill through Congress. "Quite frankly, you guys helped me write it," Biden told his guests, noting they he has worked with some of them for more than 35 years.

In recent days, Obama endorsed renewed congressional efforts to reinstate the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004. The administration has also expressed support for proposals to close loopholes that allow some buyers at gun shows to avoid background checks, and to restrict the size of high-capacity ammunition clips.

The National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups have challenged the effectiveness of such legislation. They say many proposals violate the Second Amendment right to gun ownership.

The NRA, which has stayed largely silent since the Newtown massacre, has a news conference scheduled for Friday.